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Port Luck
Nearly eighty years ago, the town of Port Luck was a thriving community in the wilds of Alaska. That was until a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances forced the townspeople to abandon their home.
The town has since been re-inhabited, drawing in new residents and businesses. By all accounts, the town is thriving. Until a body is found on the outskirts of town, shattering the illusion of safety and security.
Sheriff Johnny Myers is tasked with investigating the grisly scene. What at first appears to be a random animal attack soon reveals itself to be something much more sinister. As the bodies pile up, Johnny digs into the town’s tragic past, searching for a way to stop the cycle of violence.
In the wake of the ever-growing death toll, Johnny is forced to face the truth. The stories were real. And it’s happening again…
Praise for Port
“Port Luck proves that Timothy King’s excellent debut novel ‘Seven Rabbits’ was no fluke. This gore-drenched creature feature sinks its teeth into the reader from the first chapter and doesn’t let go even beyond the final page.”
- James Kaine, Author of 'My Pet Werewolf'
"This is an action-packed, bone-chilling horror novel by none other than the mastermind behind ‘Seven Rabbits’. It is sure to scratch all the itches of some of the best creature features out there. Set to be released in Early May, this little slice of horror is sure to satiate the palate like none other."
- David Hardy, Author of 'All The Rage'
The town has since been re-inhabited, drawing in new residents and businesses. By all accounts, the town is thriving. Until a body is found on the outskirts of town, shattering the illusion of safety and security.
Sheriff Johnny Myers is tasked with investigating the grisly scene. What at first appears to be a random animal attack soon reveals itself to be something much more sinister. As the bodies pile up, Johnny digs into the town’s tragic past, searching for a way to stop the cycle of violence.
In the wake of the ever-growing death toll, Johnny is forced to face the truth. The stories were real. And it’s happening again…
Praise for Port
“Port Luck proves that Timothy King’s excellent debut novel ‘Seven Rabbits’ was no fluke. This gore-drenched creature feature sinks its teeth into the reader from the first chapter and doesn’t let go even beyond the final page.”
- James Kaine, Author of 'My Pet Werewolf'
"This is an action-packed, bone-chilling horror novel by none other than the mastermind behind ‘Seven Rabbits’. It is sure to scratch all the itches of some of the best creature features out there. Set to be released in Early May, this little slice of horror is sure to satiate the palate like none other."
- David Hardy, Author of 'All The Rage'
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2025
386 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
May 5, 2025
5+ stars. A definite top favorite horror novel of the year. Astonishing.
October 6, 2025
There is something in the woods around the town of Port Luck, and Sheriff Johnny Myers and his one deputy are not ready for what awaits them...
This was a really good book and I flew through the pages just wanting to know what happens next, and mostly to see who survives the vicious onslaught of the beast stalking the residents of this small town in the Alaskan Wilderness. The creature they are up against is a sadistic and cruel one, that hunts his prey and taunts them while doing it, and when he makes his kill, he enjoys it with a smile on his face and makes it as brutal as possible. The word massacre is used when describing some of its kills, and that perfectly describes it, as it is bloody, very bloody. The scenes are described in full detail and the author does a really good job at taking you to the scenes. Along with fighting the beast, Johnny is also fighting with his own personal demons from his time fighting in Afghanistan where he lost a lot of men that makes Johnny all the more human.
When Johnny realises that the beast cannot be stopped by them with the weapons they have, and that help isn't coming, they decide to run the gauntlet to the nearest town with the few surviving men, women and children... Will they make it?
This was a really good book and I flew through the pages just wanting to know what happens next, and mostly to see who survives the vicious onslaught of the beast stalking the residents of this small town in the Alaskan Wilderness. The creature they are up against is a sadistic and cruel one, that hunts his prey and taunts them while doing it, and when he makes his kill, he enjoys it with a smile on his face and makes it as brutal as possible. The word massacre is used when describing some of its kills, and that perfectly describes it, as it is bloody, very bloody. The scenes are described in full detail and the author does a really good job at taking you to the scenes. Along with fighting the beast, Johnny is also fighting with his own personal demons from his time fighting in Afghanistan where he lost a lot of men that makes Johnny all the more human.
When Johnny realises that the beast cannot be stopped by them with the weapons they have, and that help isn't coming, they decide to run the gauntlet to the nearest town with the few surviving men, women and children... Will they make it?
October 25, 2025
Alaska is a Big Place...
Most of it Remains Unexplored
PORT LUCK
by Timothy King
3 1/2 stars. The snowstorm blew in without warning from the north, making the little group's hike hazardous in the resulting whiteout...
At first...
From their elevation on the Kenai mountain, they could see the blue waters of the Alaskan Gulf...
But now...
They couldn't see more than twenty feet in any direction...
Alex wanted to turn back, but Ben was determined to get to the top of the mountain...
Seeking shelter...
Emily pointed to a cave in the distance. The trio hastily made for the cave's entrance...
Ben had a sense of dread reaching the opening...
Inside the cave, the group built a fire and were digging out their supplies of food and water, when they spotted a Junga-like pyramid...
Made of bones...
And..
There were more bones at the back of the cave. A gutteral growl came from back there in the darkness...
Losing the coin toss...
Alex was sent back there to look for the source of the noise. Shortly, his severed head was tossed out toward his friends...
Ben was knocked aside as a beast dragged Emily out of the cave and into the snowstorm...
Days later...
Back in the nearby town of Port Luck, several more people were killed by a beast the settlement believed was a wendigo or an amarok...
But...
Alaska is a big place, and most of it remains unexplored, so who knows what wild beasts roam out there?
This was a fairly good creature feature story full of action and gore. There were pots and pots of coffee poured to stave off the icy cold weather, and a sheriff and his gay deputy with their hands full, trying to save the good people of Port Luck, Alaska.
Most of it Remains Unexplored
PORT LUCK
by Timothy King
3 1/2 stars. The snowstorm blew in without warning from the north, making the little group's hike hazardous in the resulting whiteout...
At first...
From their elevation on the Kenai mountain, they could see the blue waters of the Alaskan Gulf...
But now...
They couldn't see more than twenty feet in any direction...
Alex wanted to turn back, but Ben was determined to get to the top of the mountain...
Seeking shelter...
Emily pointed to a cave in the distance. The trio hastily made for the cave's entrance...
Ben had a sense of dread reaching the opening...
Inside the cave, the group built a fire and were digging out their supplies of food and water, when they spotted a Junga-like pyramid...
Made of bones...
And..
There were more bones at the back of the cave. A gutteral growl came from back there in the darkness...
Losing the coin toss...
Alex was sent back there to look for the source of the noise. Shortly, his severed head was tossed out toward his friends...
Ben was knocked aside as a beast dragged Emily out of the cave and into the snowstorm...
Days later...
Back in the nearby town of Port Luck, several more people were killed by a beast the settlement believed was a wendigo or an amarok...
But...
Alaska is a big place, and most of it remains unexplored, so who knows what wild beasts roam out there?
This was a fairly good creature feature story full of action and gore. There were pots and pots of coffee poured to stave off the icy cold weather, and a sheriff and his gay deputy with their hands full, trying to save the good people of Port Luck, Alaska.
April 23, 2025
First, I’d like to thank Timothy King for choosing me to be a part of Tim’s Terror Team and providing me with an ARC of Port Luck in exchange for my honest review. I am continuously honored to read his work in advance.
”There’s something in the woods.”
Timothy King has done it again!
Port Luck is an incredibly written horror/thriller creature feature set in deep, rural Alaska.
Something is killing the people of Port Luck. After a couple of savage and brutal murders, Sheriff Johnny Myers is tasked with solving the crimes, accompanied by his deputy, Brian Williams. Originally thought to be the doings of a wolf or bear— the crimes are at first brushed off.
But something isn’t right.
The bodies of the slain individuals have their organs missing, the claw marks that ravage their skin are incredibly large and excruciatingly deep, and their heads are bashed in beyond recognition.
Can all of this be done by Alaska’s common wildlife? Johnny, Brian, and the town’s coroner, Earnest, think not.
But the slaughter doesn’t slow down, as the town’s past resurfaces for another round of killings. A creature is hunting the locals, and the bodies begin to pile up in more gruesome ways.
Port Luck is far from being lucky.
What a fantastic, gripping, and nail-biting read. I swore creature features and cryptids were not my thing— until I picked up Port Luck. Not only was the writing excellent, but the character development was solid, the tone was atmospheric, and the cast was diverse and inclusive. I knew nothing about Alaska, yet Timothy King wrote a story that was full of knowledge and history, alongside a tale of terror.
Everything in this novel was just so vivid. From the isolation and the fear, to the connections with and between characters, and the impending doom that ramped up as the story pressed forward— I’m a proud reader today.
If you’re wary of creature features, or if you absolutely adore them— Port Luck is the book to keep on your radar. I am continuously dumbfounded at Timothy King’s ability to write bigger and better stories every time.
From the moment I read the first few pages, I knew this was going to be a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star read for me. I was captivated from the beginning, and kept on my toes throughout. An absolute banger. I highly recommend to my urban legend lovers.
”There’s something in the woods.”
Timothy King has done it again!
Port Luck is an incredibly written horror/thriller creature feature set in deep, rural Alaska.
Something is killing the people of Port Luck. After a couple of savage and brutal murders, Sheriff Johnny Myers is tasked with solving the crimes, accompanied by his deputy, Brian Williams. Originally thought to be the doings of a wolf or bear— the crimes are at first brushed off.
But something isn’t right.
The bodies of the slain individuals have their organs missing, the claw marks that ravage their skin are incredibly large and excruciatingly deep, and their heads are bashed in beyond recognition.
Can all of this be done by Alaska’s common wildlife? Johnny, Brian, and the town’s coroner, Earnest, think not.
But the slaughter doesn’t slow down, as the town’s past resurfaces for another round of killings. A creature is hunting the locals, and the bodies begin to pile up in more gruesome ways.
Port Luck is far from being lucky.
What a fantastic, gripping, and nail-biting read. I swore creature features and cryptids were not my thing— until I picked up Port Luck. Not only was the writing excellent, but the character development was solid, the tone was atmospheric, and the cast was diverse and inclusive. I knew nothing about Alaska, yet Timothy King wrote a story that was full of knowledge and history, alongside a tale of terror.
Everything in this novel was just so vivid. From the isolation and the fear, to the connections with and between characters, and the impending doom that ramped up as the story pressed forward— I’m a proud reader today.
If you’re wary of creature features, or if you absolutely adore them— Port Luck is the book to keep on your radar. I am continuously dumbfounded at Timothy King’s ability to write bigger and better stories every time.
From the moment I read the first few pages, I knew this was going to be a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star read for me. I was captivated from the beginning, and kept on my toes throughout. An absolute banger. I highly recommend to my urban legend lovers.
May 4, 2025
WHOA! Ok this was an absolutely insane creature feature story. An isolated community, a monstrous Cryptid from Inuit folklore, a pile of bodies that just keeps getting bigger… you get my drift, it’s a totally spine chilling read!
A group of hikers stumbles upon a cave while seeking shelter from a blizzard in remote Alaska. They soon find out the cave is already occupied, and the horrors are just beginning. The nearby town of Port Luck is about to become bathed in blood.
Great writing, a variety of characters, fantastic scenes, action galore, this was the perfect read for my weekend!
A group of hikers stumbles upon a cave while seeking shelter from a blizzard in remote Alaska. They soon find out the cave is already occupied, and the horrors are just beginning. The nearby town of Port Luck is about to become bathed in blood.
Great writing, a variety of characters, fantastic scenes, action galore, this was the perfect read for my weekend!
June 7, 2025
PORT LUCK [2025] By Timothy King
My Review 5.0 Stars
This new release by horror author Timothy King was one of the two designated Group Reads for the month of June Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. The novel was proof-positive that King’s debut book “Seven Rabbits” released in the spring last year [2024] was no fluke, no “happy accident”. His first book was a hard-hitting brutal vigilante justice story that bled originality, had perfect pacing, excellent plotting, quality character development and stark realism. The newcomer ups the ante with his sophomore performance and offers readers the backdrop of a bleak isolated Alaskan town that regurgitates a monster from the town’s past history to tear it asunder all over again.
The second you read the first sentence your feet sink into the frigid snow that covers the small town of Port Luck. The atmosphere of fear and impending doom settles around your shoulders and the literal below zero cold of the weather is matched only by the proverbial chill that clamps around your heart. You are hooked immediately and pulled in by the fast paced violent and blood-soaked story line.
Around eighty years ago the town was a thriving community in the wild landscape of frigid Alaska. But violent death came like a thief in the night and when the snow settled the cold ground was littered with dead and mutilated bodies of the townspeople. Father Time has seen another eighty years come and go with the little town of Port Luck once again alive and thriving. The story begins right out of the gate with an unknown horror tearing apart three innocent hikers seeking refuge from a snowstorm in the mouth of a cave. They hear a noise, and one walks further into the cave to investigate.
“The hairs on the back of Ben’s neck stood at attention and his blood ran cold. Something soared through the air from around the corner and crashed into the wall at his side. In the darkness of the cave, he could only make out a round object on the ground near his feet. Hesitantly, he bent over to examine it. His fingers brushed against hair, and a warm, wet substance clung to his hand. When he rolled it over, Alex’s lifeless eyes stared back at him. His face was stretched into a look of terror…”
In town, Sheriff Johnny Myers and his Deputy Brian Williams are called out into the frigid cold to investigate the mangled and mutilated remains of two bodies left as detritus of red carnage in the snow. The two lawmen who are also friends are unaware of the challenge that awaits them. The horror tale shifts down into first gear and takes off like a remorseless killing machine across the white snow-covered landscape of the town and its surrounding land. The body count rises every time you take a deep breath or so it seems. The killings are gory, bloody, bodies literally ripped apart, limbs and heads recovered distances away from the kill sites. The citizens of the town are being horribly murdered while the cops try to find out the nature of how they are being slaughtered and by who or what.
The sheriff sends an experienced big game hunter who calls the creature an “Amarok” (Werewolf), and he believes he is intelligent enough and good enough with his rifle to kill the beast. But as the body count continues to rise, and when the men sight the creature and behold its massive size and its immunity to the multiple blasts from their artillery, plans shift from attack to freeze in place and send for help. The pace is relentless, and the reader compulsively rides the wave of adrenaline as one plan after the other falls at the feet of the invincible murderous monster.
Eventually the police try to hoard the remaining townsfolk into church and to then transport them to the nearest city in a bus. The scene is like a hellscape, and the men are desperate to save the women and children, other civilians who are still alive. The tension is so tight when the men begin their escape from town with their innocent human cargo the reader feels like a brick of lead has found residence in the pit of their stomach.
The stark realism of the writing and the vivid description of the violent slaughtering of the human victims is at once chilling and shocking. The penultimate conclusion does not attempt to be anything other than honest and real. The Epilogue 10 Years Later offers a kind of closure which still leaves you shellshocked from reading the novel.
TIMOTHY KING BRINGS HIS SECOND FIVE-STAR READ TO HIS WAITING FANS
My Review 5.0 Stars
This new release by horror author Timothy King was one of the two designated Group Reads for the month of June Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. The novel was proof-positive that King’s debut book “Seven Rabbits” released in the spring last year [2024] was no fluke, no “happy accident”. His first book was a hard-hitting brutal vigilante justice story that bled originality, had perfect pacing, excellent plotting, quality character development and stark realism. The newcomer ups the ante with his sophomore performance and offers readers the backdrop of a bleak isolated Alaskan town that regurgitates a monster from the town’s past history to tear it asunder all over again.
The second you read the first sentence your feet sink into the frigid snow that covers the small town of Port Luck. The atmosphere of fear and impending doom settles around your shoulders and the literal below zero cold of the weather is matched only by the proverbial chill that clamps around your heart. You are hooked immediately and pulled in by the fast paced violent and blood-soaked story line.
Around eighty years ago the town was a thriving community in the wild landscape of frigid Alaska. But violent death came like a thief in the night and when the snow settled the cold ground was littered with dead and mutilated bodies of the townspeople. Father Time has seen another eighty years come and go with the little town of Port Luck once again alive and thriving. The story begins right out of the gate with an unknown horror tearing apart three innocent hikers seeking refuge from a snowstorm in the mouth of a cave. They hear a noise, and one walks further into the cave to investigate.
“The hairs on the back of Ben’s neck stood at attention and his blood ran cold. Something soared through the air from around the corner and crashed into the wall at his side. In the darkness of the cave, he could only make out a round object on the ground near his feet. Hesitantly, he bent over to examine it. His fingers brushed against hair, and a warm, wet substance clung to his hand. When he rolled it over, Alex’s lifeless eyes stared back at him. His face was stretched into a look of terror…”
In town, Sheriff Johnny Myers and his Deputy Brian Williams are called out into the frigid cold to investigate the mangled and mutilated remains of two bodies left as detritus of red carnage in the snow. The two lawmen who are also friends are unaware of the challenge that awaits them. The horror tale shifts down into first gear and takes off like a remorseless killing machine across the white snow-covered landscape of the town and its surrounding land. The body count rises every time you take a deep breath or so it seems. The killings are gory, bloody, bodies literally ripped apart, limbs and heads recovered distances away from the kill sites. The citizens of the town are being horribly murdered while the cops try to find out the nature of how they are being slaughtered and by who or what.
The sheriff sends an experienced big game hunter who calls the creature an “Amarok” (Werewolf), and he believes he is intelligent enough and good enough with his rifle to kill the beast. But as the body count continues to rise, and when the men sight the creature and behold its massive size and its immunity to the multiple blasts from their artillery, plans shift from attack to freeze in place and send for help. The pace is relentless, and the reader compulsively rides the wave of adrenaline as one plan after the other falls at the feet of the invincible murderous monster.
Eventually the police try to hoard the remaining townsfolk into church and to then transport them to the nearest city in a bus. The scene is like a hellscape, and the men are desperate to save the women and children, other civilians who are still alive. The tension is so tight when the men begin their escape from town with their innocent human cargo the reader feels like a brick of lead has found residence in the pit of their stomach.
The stark realism of the writing and the vivid description of the violent slaughtering of the human victims is at once chilling and shocking. The penultimate conclusion does not attempt to be anything other than honest and real. The Epilogue 10 Years Later offers a kind of closure which still leaves you shellshocked from reading the novel.
TIMOTHY KING BRINGS HIS SECOND FIVE-STAR READ TO HIS WAITING FANS
June 1, 2025
Splatterpunk Group Read for June as selected by Pisces. I don't often throw five stars about as I am a bit stingy with them. But this one is well worthy of a five star review. I love the premise of being hunted in the snowy forests and mountains by some unknown horror. I found that really good with "The Ritual" by Adam Nevill. This book is a throwback to good old fashioned splatter horror of years gone, no messing about just a straight up survival horror. It's bloody, has a great cast of characters and all the main characters are great. Like many great early splatterpunk stories we have turds in authoritative positions, lots of no good townspeople who make life hard for our main heroes and kudos to the author for creating such a likeable character in Brian, who isn't your average stereotype white cop super man. The beast itself is never fully explained, which I really liked as it keeps a sense of mystery throughout. We just see it for what it is, a savage beast. This is very much a recommended read from me.
October 22, 2025
Probably 3.5/5.0 stars. Very much worth a Halloween season foray into creature features.
June 25, 2025
MASSIVE SPOILERS IN REVIEW! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
3.5 ⭐️s (Rounded up for Goodreads.)
The first half of this novel was actually pretty good. It was addicting, and I didn't want to put it down. But then the second half hit, and although it wasn't bad—it was decent—there were more typos and mistakes, (There were still typos in the first half.) and just plain annoying crap happening. The ending was unsatisfying and annoying.
That agent guy was stupid and kind of far-fetched. I was fine with Johnny going back to finish off the monster in the epilogue, and him dying was fine, I guess... but it was the just before escape and after escape chapters that disappointed me the most.
The constant smiling and laughing from the monster was so aggravating that I started dreading every time it showed up. I don't know what the monster is supposed to be
The book doesn't tell you at all, and it didn't seem to be a werewolf or wendigo, so I have no idea. But the fact it seemed to just be killing for the sport of it, and that it found joy from killing, and that's why it was "smiling" and "laughing" was stuppiddd. I'm sorry, but it feels kind of lazy to me? Like really? It's not because it's hungry (It killed so many people in the span of a few days, so obviously not hungry.) or that it just feels threatened by the people, (I feel like this happens a lot with animals.) and that's why it's killing the people? It's because it likes the freaking hunt? Oh, it's bEcAuSe It'S a PrEdAtOr, It LiKeS tHe ThRiLl Of ThE hUnT. No... it just feels lazy.
I liked Brian, and Johnny was mostly enjoyable, along with Earnest and Jeremiah. But the rest of the characters were just eh. Amy was OK, she didn't really say or do much, but the Mayor, his son, and the cannery workers were so angering. I didn't even feel bad when they died.
There were QUITE a few typos and/or wrongly written passages.
Like one of them was Brian pulling Darren on the detached seat of a snowmobile, and it mentions that Brian's body aches a lot, and then the mistake is: "His hands ached from dragging Brian on the seat of the snowmobile."
Brian is the one pulling it. Darren is the one being dragged. So his hands ached from dragging DARREN.
Here's an incorrectly written line, which I was mainly confused about: "Each time, a shot of pain so intense he passed out twice soared through his body."
Did he mean:
"Each time a shot of pain so intense soared through his body, he passed out." ?
I don't know if maybe it was supposed to be written like that but is lacking a couple commas or a couple em dashes next to "he passed out twice", and if he just mistakenly added a period at the end of the sentence, when the next sentence is supposed to be connected with it for it to make sense? I don't know.
Almost every time the monster showed up. It was always a dark figure in the distance first, and majority of the time, the character the POV was following (It's in third person) always had to mention/think in the third person monologue that the figure or "dark/black spot" they see in the distance appears darker than the darkness surrounding it. Kind of repetitive, if I say so myself. 🤷♀️
Bullets never scared or hurt the monster even a little bit. 😤🙄 C'mon... not even startled?
This lacked on explanations, (seriously, don't expect any explanations if you have questions.) and character depth and development. (We get like no backstory for anyone :( so we didn't really get to know the characters much.)
Nobody thought about using fire? Especially when some people talked about werewolves and/or wendigos? 😭
Supernatural101 most things hate and are weak to fire!
I would've liked it a lot more if there were more survivors. Because why does pretty much every villager have to die? I feel like Brian didn't have to die. It would've been much better if he lived. "But then Johnny wouldn't have went back to kill the monster." and what I have to say to that is: So?
Despite the many complaints, this book did have its good moments, hence why I didn't rate it lower.
It was fun for the most part and it was extremely fast paced, and was a page-turner. There were a few times when I didn't want to put the book down. Although this can be a con to many people, so keep that in mind if you don't like extremely fast books, because stuff was happening CONSTANTLY in this.
I feel like the small town and snowy/blizzard "vibes" it was going for was captured well.
The first half was amazing. It was definitely on 4 star territory, but then... stuff happened...
This is on Kindle Unlimited. So if you have that, then I'd definitely say check it out.
3.5 ⭐️s since it was pretty fun, and because I read this FAST.
3.5 ⭐️s (Rounded up for Goodreads.)
The first half of this novel was actually pretty good. It was addicting, and I didn't want to put it down. But then the second half hit, and although it wasn't bad—it was decent—there were more typos and mistakes, (There were still typos in the first half.) and just plain annoying crap happening. The ending was unsatisfying and annoying.
That agent guy was stupid and kind of far-fetched. I was fine with Johnny going back to finish off the monster in the epilogue, and him dying was fine, I guess... but it was the just before escape and after escape chapters that disappointed me the most.
The constant smiling and laughing from the monster was so aggravating that I started dreading every time it showed up. I don't know what the monster is supposed to be
The book doesn't tell you at all, and it didn't seem to be a werewolf or wendigo, so I have no idea. But the fact it seemed to just be killing for the sport of it, and that it found joy from killing, and that's why it was "smiling" and "laughing" was stuppiddd. I'm sorry, but it feels kind of lazy to me? Like really? It's not because it's hungry (It killed so many people in the span of a few days, so obviously not hungry.) or that it just feels threatened by the people, (I feel like this happens a lot with animals.) and that's why it's killing the people? It's because it likes the freaking hunt? Oh, it's bEcAuSe It'S a PrEdAtOr, It LiKeS tHe ThRiLl Of ThE hUnT. No... it just feels lazy.
I liked Brian, and Johnny was mostly enjoyable, along with Earnest and Jeremiah. But the rest of the characters were just eh. Amy was OK, she didn't really say or do much, but the Mayor, his son, and the cannery workers were so angering. I didn't even feel bad when they died.
There were QUITE a few typos and/or wrongly written passages.
Like one of them was Brian pulling Darren on the detached seat of a snowmobile, and it mentions that Brian's body aches a lot, and then the mistake is: "His hands ached from dragging Brian on the seat of the snowmobile."
Brian is the one pulling it. Darren is the one being dragged. So his hands ached from dragging DARREN.
Here's an incorrectly written line, which I was mainly confused about: "Each time, a shot of pain so intense he passed out twice soared through his body."
Did he mean:
"Each time a shot of pain so intense soared through his body, he passed out." ?
I don't know if maybe it was supposed to be written like that but is lacking a couple commas or a couple em dashes next to "he passed out twice", and if he just mistakenly added a period at the end of the sentence, when the next sentence is supposed to be connected with it for it to make sense? I don't know.
Almost every time the monster showed up. It was always a dark figure in the distance first, and majority of the time, the character the POV was following (It's in third person) always had to mention/think in the third person monologue that the figure or "dark/black spot" they see in the distance appears darker than the darkness surrounding it. Kind of repetitive, if I say so myself. 🤷♀️
Bullets never scared or hurt the monster even a little bit. 😤🙄 C'mon... not even startled?
This lacked on explanations, (seriously, don't expect any explanations if you have questions.) and character depth and development. (We get like no backstory for anyone :( so we didn't really get to know the characters much.)
Nobody thought about using fire? Especially when some people talked about werewolves and/or wendigos? 😭
Supernatural101 most things hate and are weak to fire!
I would've liked it a lot more if there were more survivors. Because why does pretty much every villager have to die? I feel like Brian didn't have to die. It would've been much better if he lived. "But then Johnny wouldn't have went back to kill the monster." and what I have to say to that is: So?
Despite the many complaints, this book did have its good moments, hence why I didn't rate it lower.
It was fun for the most part and it was extremely fast paced, and was a page-turner. There were a few times when I didn't want to put the book down. Although this can be a con to many people, so keep that in mind if you don't like extremely fast books, because stuff was happening CONSTANTLY in this.
I feel like the small town and snowy/blizzard "vibes" it was going for was captured well.
The first half was amazing. It was definitely on 4 star territory, but then... stuff happened...
This is on Kindle Unlimited. So if you have that, then I'd definitely say check it out.
3.5 ⭐️s since it was pretty fun, and because I read this FAST.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
Violence Rating: 5/5 - Abattoir
First page in, reading the Trigger warnings and I knew I'd love the book. The author felt candid enough to warn us of the wickedness we'll jump into and I think he only meant that to tease us even more. Not because we’d support the disgusting bigotry, but because Mr. King had the courage to write about it and then had the audacity to make us feel even for those sorry excuses of human beings.
Yes, this novel is action-packed and fast-paced, but it never lacked sentiment and suspense.
'Port Luck' starts with a BOOM. Only a few sentences into Chapter 1, and I already found myself holding my breath. It should be illegal to start a book with so much fire and never douse it for the entirety of it. This book was a non-stop adrenaline pumping fest, unnerving and deliciously savage. You know a book is a gem when you devour the pages like a starving beast yourself. I simply couldn't let go of it.
Port Luck is an eerie town, and the blizzard setting provides the perfect backdrop for a nasty situation to escalate into a full-blown carnage from which the townspeople cannot escape. And yet, this human helplessness and yet strange mental fortitude is what keeps the suspense snowballing (no pun intended).
The premise is rather simple, there’s a werewolf creature (not sure if just one) who is massacring Port Luck’s townsfolks. What sets this book apart is the mystery surrounding the werewolf's identity, which has never been elucidated, because honestly none of the town people seem suspect at all. So as a reader, conditioned to always predict the creature’s identity in such novels, what else were we left with? Well, with that mission out of our way, we are left with a much more delightful experience - suspense, brutal and feral attacks that never shied away from painting the most gory pictures you could fathom and strong emotions. Yes, I actually felt sad even for the worst of the lot.
I wasn’t surprised that in the end, the protagonist (John) felt the need for a closure, ultimately ruining his otherwise perfect life for that peace of mind that would’ve never come to him by pretending the events in Port Luck didn’t happen,
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on the perspective, there are some questions left unanswered. First of all, the girl at the beginning of the book, Emily, has never been found and the end of Chapter 1 clearly showed that the creature didn’t kill her, it simply carried her out of the cave. Secondly, as I already mentioned, we never learn who the werewolf was or if there were more of them. And who was Samson? Without actual confirmation, I’d say he was the attacker judging by his wounds, but again, who was he and who were the others he mentioned? Was it a pack of werewolves? We don’t know. Finally, considering the common werewolf lore, wouldn't John have been infected by the beast when it gripped his head and left lacerations on his scalp? So many things left shrouded in mystery that I’m unsure whether to be frustrated or completely captivated.
Truth be told, this book demands a sequel, if only to bring more light to the whole plot, characters, and see more of Agent Samson and his enigmatic organization. Ultimately, I love Mr. King’s writing style and I’ll surely read more from him.
First page in, reading the Trigger warnings and I knew I'd love the book. The author felt candid enough to warn us of the wickedness we'll jump into and I think he only meant that to tease us even more. Not because we’d support the disgusting bigotry, but because Mr. King had the courage to write about it and then had the audacity to make us feel even for those sorry excuses of human beings.
Yes, this novel is action-packed and fast-paced, but it never lacked sentiment and suspense.
'Port Luck' starts with a BOOM. Only a few sentences into Chapter 1, and I already found myself holding my breath. It should be illegal to start a book with so much fire and never douse it for the entirety of it. This book was a non-stop adrenaline pumping fest, unnerving and deliciously savage. You know a book is a gem when you devour the pages like a starving beast yourself. I simply couldn't let go of it.
Port Luck is an eerie town, and the blizzard setting provides the perfect backdrop for a nasty situation to escalate into a full-blown carnage from which the townspeople cannot escape. And yet, this human helplessness and yet strange mental fortitude is what keeps the suspense snowballing (no pun intended).
The premise is rather simple, there’s a werewolf creature (not sure if just one) who is massacring Port Luck’s townsfolks. What sets this book apart is the mystery surrounding the werewolf's identity, which has never been elucidated, because honestly none of the town people seem suspect at all. So as a reader, conditioned to always predict the creature’s identity in such novels, what else were we left with? Well, with that mission out of our way, we are left with a much more delightful experience - suspense, brutal and feral attacks that never shied away from painting the most gory pictures you could fathom and strong emotions. Yes, I actually felt sad even for the worst of the lot.
I wasn’t surprised that in the end, the protagonist (John) felt the need for a closure, ultimately ruining his otherwise perfect life for that peace of mind that would’ve never come to him by pretending the events in Port Luck didn’t happen,
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on the perspective, there are some questions left unanswered. First of all, the girl at the beginning of the book, Emily, has never been found and the end of Chapter 1 clearly showed that the creature didn’t kill her, it simply carried her out of the cave. Secondly, as I already mentioned, we never learn who the werewolf was or if there were more of them. And who was Samson? Without actual confirmation, I’d say he was the attacker judging by his wounds, but again, who was he and who were the others he mentioned? Was it a pack of werewolves? We don’t know. Finally, considering the common werewolf lore, wouldn't John have been infected by the beast when it gripped his head and left lacerations on his scalp? So many things left shrouded in mystery that I’m unsure whether to be frustrated or completely captivated.
Truth be told, this book demands a sequel, if only to bring more light to the whole plot, characters, and see more of Agent Samson and his enigmatic organization. Ultimately, I love Mr. King’s writing style and I’ll surely read more from him.
March 19, 2025
Port Luck by Timothy King comes in with a HUGE bang with an enormous creature feature that will blow your mind! The creature feature genre is starting to become one of my favorites to read!
This monster book sucks you in and comes back for more. This is a fast/intense pace with no holds bar on who lives or dies. This a gory motherfucker. The character development in the novel just screams believable with the fear of the monster especially when you finally see the monster. Your quivering in your shoes and sweating profusely.
This was the first book I read by Timothy and it won't be my last. This book read like a movie sequence. All fitting together in my head. This was such a fun read for me and I will be reading more of him. I also can't wait to see him at Books & Brews 2.0 at the Wynham Hotel in Noblesville, Indiana.
I want to thank TimothyKing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
March 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Port Luck by Timothy King
I received this highly anticipated ARC from Tim last night and dove into it IMMEDIATELY. Creature feature is one of my favorite horror book tropes. When Tim posted this cover a while back I had to get my hands on it. Creature feature AND set in the PNW!? SOLD!
Set in a small town in Alaska, weird things start happening in this close-knit community. Is a wolf to blame? A bear? Something is wreaking havoc and the town’s Sheriff and Deputy are stand-up dudes who are down to defend their people against the terror that lurks. As they start to dig into investigating what is happening, they uncover an important bit of information about the town’s history. But is the lore actually true??
It was a fast paced tale and I was sucked in right away. I loved all of the characters. The POS Mayor and his POS son were frustrating characters but they were definitely integral to the story. I don’t want to give too much away but maaaan The Sheriff and Deputy handled them well 😏.
Loved the inclusivity going on with this story and the bits about the Sheriff’s military background. I loved how he was a dedicated husband and friend. I loved the gore as well as the depth to characters. This book checked all my boxes and is easily a top read for this year for me.
Releases May 2nd.. don’t miss it!!
Port Luck by Timothy King
I received this highly anticipated ARC from Tim last night and dove into it IMMEDIATELY. Creature feature is one of my favorite horror book tropes. When Tim posted this cover a while back I had to get my hands on it. Creature feature AND set in the PNW!? SOLD!
Set in a small town in Alaska, weird things start happening in this close-knit community. Is a wolf to blame? A bear? Something is wreaking havoc and the town’s Sheriff and Deputy are stand-up dudes who are down to defend their people against the terror that lurks. As they start to dig into investigating what is happening, they uncover an important bit of information about the town’s history. But is the lore actually true??
It was a fast paced tale and I was sucked in right away. I loved all of the characters. The POS Mayor and his POS son were frustrating characters but they were definitely integral to the story. I don’t want to give too much away but maaaan The Sheriff and Deputy handled them well 😏.
Loved the inclusivity going on with this story and the bits about the Sheriff’s military background. I loved how he was a dedicated husband and friend. I loved the gore as well as the depth to characters. This book checked all my boxes and is easily a top read for this year for me.
Releases May 2nd.. don’t miss it!!
September 24, 2025
4.5⭐️ Exactly what I was looking for and a quick read! After that I also went down the rabbit hole of the real town in Alaska. Great for a snowy winter time.
December 3, 2025
A eerie, urban legend horror about a small Alaskan town and the monster who terrorizes the people there.
Timothy’s writing is so engaging and addictive, making his books so easy to binge read. He is a master at balancing dread, dark humor and character development. Highly recommend this creature feature.
Side note: What true story is this inspired by??? Hold on a second, I completely didn’t see that note. Now I’m not sure if I’ll ever visit Alaska 😂
Timothy’s writing is so engaging and addictive, making his books so easy to binge read. He is a master at balancing dread, dark humor and character development. Highly recommend this creature feature.
Side note: What true story is this inspired by??? Hold on a second, I completely didn’t see that note. Now I’m not sure if I’ll ever visit Alaska 😂
July 1, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
July 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ rounded down for Goodreads.
“There’s something in the woods.”
I devoured this book. I couldn't put it down and was immediately drawn into the carnage. The book opens with the evisceration of three people...yes. Not a moment of reprieve even in the beginning. Little did I know, that was just a sample of what was to come.
This book terrified me. It unnerved me, and I was deeply disturbed. The setting, the isolation, and the atmospheric tone of the book, all this combined with this unknown creature mutilating small town residences, made for such an incredible read. The pacing was great, and the characters were well crafted. The suspense, the gore, the carnage, the descriptions of each scene of death, and the creatures appearance left very little to the imagination. I loved every minute of it.
The ending couldn't have been better. Knowing that this was inspired by true events gives me something to research in my spare time. The only reason this book isn't 5 ⭐️ for me is character drama, and some of the dialogue felt a little repetitive. The book didn't need the hints of racism or homophobia. It added nothing to the plot. Other than that, a solid read for me.
“There’s something in the woods.”
I devoured this book. I couldn't put it down and was immediately drawn into the carnage. The book opens with the evisceration of three people...yes. Not a moment of reprieve even in the beginning. Little did I know, that was just a sample of what was to come.
This book terrified me. It unnerved me, and I was deeply disturbed. The setting, the isolation, and the atmospheric tone of the book, all this combined with this unknown creature mutilating small town residences, made for such an incredible read. The pacing was great, and the characters were well crafted. The suspense, the gore, the carnage, the descriptions of each scene of death, and the creatures appearance left very little to the imagination. I loved every minute of it.
The ending couldn't have been better. Knowing that this was inspired by true events gives me something to research in my spare time. The only reason this book isn't 5 ⭐️ for me is character drama, and some of the dialogue felt a little repetitive. The book didn't need the hints of racism or homophobia. It added nothing to the plot. Other than that, a solid read for me.
August 10, 2025
My first Timothy King book and I wasn't disappointed.
The characters were very well written and I wasn't expecting that. I just wanted to read a good monster story and I ended up actually caring about most of the characters in Port Luck. Similar to how I feel reading Hunter Shea.
I also loved the creature. Absolutely brutal.
The characters were very well written and I wasn't expecting that. I just wanted to read a good monster story and I ended up actually caring about most of the characters in Port Luck. Similar to how I feel reading Hunter Shea.
I also loved the creature. Absolutely brutal.
April 15, 2025
Timothy King's "Port Luck" pulled me into the plot from the get go, and quickly progressed into a completely believable, though fully supernatural, creature feature, with cinematically described action scenes and hugely relatable characters. It opened with an incredibly well-done scene of three young people lost in a blizzard, who suddenly realize they're being hunted. Next thing I knew, I was a hundred pages in, and still going strong, as the story kept getting more and more harrowing, very very fast. In fact, the pacing is amazing: things kept happening one after the other (after all, bad things usually come in twos and threes) to the point I could really feel the intensity, the despair, and the anxiety of Port Luck's good and bad people trying to save themselves and their loved ones from the creature terrorizing (once again!) their small Alaskan town.
Rural Alaska was given its due, Inuits getting seriously involved was a truly nice touch and not mere lip service, and the Marine mentality of the main character (the town's sherriff, an ex-marine) was conveyed beautifully - not to mention the emotional turmoil of his closeted deputy, the bigotry and the slurs he had to face daily. You can easily empathize with everyone, even the most annoying character (I'm looking at you, Darren!).
Obviously King nailed it again: his storytelling had just the right level of detail, never tiring out the reader, always keeping the suspense high and the gore never burdening the story more than necessary.
This creature feature is a fantastic blend of isolation and winter horror, with strong slasher vibes: the sadistic monster is relentless, enjoys killing, and respects noone. If you like action thrillers, slashers, and cryptid tales, you'll definitely enjoy "Port Luck"!
Rural Alaska was given its due, Inuits getting seriously involved was a truly nice touch and not mere lip service, and the Marine mentality of the main character (the town's sherriff, an ex-marine) was conveyed beautifully - not to mention the emotional turmoil of his closeted deputy, the bigotry and the slurs he had to face daily. You can easily empathize with everyone, even the most annoying character (I'm looking at you, Darren!).
Obviously King nailed it again: his storytelling had just the right level of detail, never tiring out the reader, always keeping the suspense high and the gore never burdening the story more than necessary.
This creature feature is a fantastic blend of isolation and winter horror, with strong slasher vibes: the sadistic monster is relentless, enjoys killing, and respects noone. If you like action thrillers, slashers, and cryptid tales, you'll definitely enjoy "Port Luck"!
August 22, 2025
3.5★, rounded up.
Port Luck is a solid creature-feature with Jaws-on-land energy. The small-town Alaska vibe is top notch. Snow, gossip, and old (and new) grudges. And the main crew is easy to root for, the kind you actually enjoy following between set pieces. When the monster comes calling, it’s brutal and bloody. The action scenes are savage, cinematic, and deliver exactly the kind of visceral chaos you’d expect from a monster born of Inuit legend.
That said, I do think the book runs a bit long. As much as I was locked in during the final stretch, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the story would’ve hit harder with a tighter page count. The climax has teeth, but the pacing just before it drags a little more than it should.
Still, for what it sets out to do—small-town horror with a savage cryptid and a good dose of mayhem—it delivers. Definitely recommend for fans of creature features and cold-blooded terror.
Port Luck is a solid creature-feature with Jaws-on-land energy. The small-town Alaska vibe is top notch. Snow, gossip, and old (and new) grudges. And the main crew is easy to root for, the kind you actually enjoy following between set pieces. When the monster comes calling, it’s brutal and bloody. The action scenes are savage, cinematic, and deliver exactly the kind of visceral chaos you’d expect from a monster born of Inuit legend.
That said, I do think the book runs a bit long. As much as I was locked in during the final stretch, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the story would’ve hit harder with a tighter page count. The climax has teeth, but the pacing just before it drags a little more than it should.
Still, for what it sets out to do—small-town horror with a savage cryptid and a good dose of mayhem—it delivers. Definitely recommend for fans of creature features and cold-blooded terror.
June 25, 2025
A monster is on the loose in Port Luck and the carnage is extensive.
September 10, 2025
a small town is being attacked by a monster. who will survive if any? Will it be a repeat from 1944 for this village or will the monster meet its match?
December 19, 2025
If I had a nickel for every time the author used the word "marine" I would have a couple dollars. Which isn't a lot, but it's crazy it was said that many times and used as one of the only personality traits for the MC.
September 19, 2025
This has everything I want in a werewolf story 6 out of 5 stars.
March 30, 2025
I received this ARC free from the author in exchange for a honest review. Port Luck will be released on May 2.
I loved this book! There is no putting this book down until you read the last page. Port Luck is fast paced, gory and violent. The character development and writing made me feel like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book.
Taking place in a small town in Alaska strange things start happening. People and pets are going missing leaving only a pool of blood behind. The townspeople think that a wolf is to blame. Through the progression of the story the creature is revealed and it's definitely not a wolf.
I highly recommend this book! Character development and plot are A+.
I loved this book! There is no putting this book down until you read the last page. Port Luck is fast paced, gory and violent. The character development and writing made me feel like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book.
Taking place in a small town in Alaska strange things start happening. People and pets are going missing leaving only a pool of blood behind. The townspeople think that a wolf is to blame. Through the progression of the story the creature is revealed and it's definitely not a wolf.
I highly recommend this book! Character development and plot are A+.
July 28, 2025
This was my first Timothy King book but it won't be my last!
Port Luck is a straight shooter Werewolf tale (or take on the Werewolf). We have a well written, interesting group of characters in a rural Canadian town and it's obvious from the start this single Werewolf is a walking killing machine.
I enjoyed the angle of the single creature being incredibly powerful, it made every encounter feel deadly. The characters are all well written, you route for the good guys and even morn the d*cks when they die.
A great read, looking forward to the next one!
Port Luck is a straight shooter Werewolf tale (or take on the Werewolf). We have a well written, interesting group of characters in a rural Canadian town and it's obvious from the start this single Werewolf is a walking killing machine.
I enjoyed the angle of the single creature being incredibly powerful, it made every encounter feel deadly. The characters are all well written, you route for the good guys and even morn the d*cks when they die.
A great read, looking forward to the next one!
May 22, 2025
Really good creature feature story. From the first death, it doesn't let up- death, death, death. Found it well written, and the story was intriguing, especially since it's inspired by the real-life Portlock mystery.
September 23, 2025
Solid, fast paced Werewolf gore fest!
September 28, 2025
This was a really fast-paced and gripping small town creature feature. Far more brutal than I anticipated but I really liked it.
April 23, 2025
I am so thankful that I received an ARC of Timothy King’s Fuck Them Kids back in November. It led me to read more of his work, and he has easily become an auto-read for me. FTK was one of my favourite reads of 2024, and I’ve no doubt that Port Luck will be one of my favourites of 2025.
Port Luck, Alaska was deserted 80 years ago after a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances. It has since been re-inhabited, but it seems that the past has come back to haunt them. After discovering the first gruesome scene, they assume animal attacks, but things soon spiral and more savaged bodies start showing up. Sheriff Johnny Myers realizes that a creature unlike anything they’ve seen before is out there hunting them, and the townspeople need to abandon Port Luck once again. Each death is more gory than the one before, and each glimpse of the creature more terrifying. Overall, it’s just a kick-ass book! It’s also based on an actual ghost town in Alaska known for its history of mysterious disappearances, so it has been fun to learn more about that. You don’t want to miss out on this one!
Port Luck, Alaska was deserted 80 years ago after a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances. It has since been re-inhabited, but it seems that the past has come back to haunt them. After discovering the first gruesome scene, they assume animal attacks, but things soon spiral and more savaged bodies start showing up. Sheriff Johnny Myers realizes that a creature unlike anything they’ve seen before is out there hunting them, and the townspeople need to abandon Port Luck once again. Each death is more gory than the one before, and each glimpse of the creature more terrifying. Overall, it’s just a kick-ass book! It’s also based on an actual ghost town in Alaska known for its history of mysterious disappearances, so it has been fun to learn more about that. You don’t want to miss out on this one!
April 28, 2025
In the remote town of Port Luck an old horror of whispered legend lurks. This fast-paced adventure starts off immediately with action. Three hikers in a blizzard are in major trouble, and the supposed respite they come upon soon turns into a horrifying outcome. Then we are brought to the remote town of Port Luck, a normal day in a quiet town soon turns into a horror show where no one is safe and everyone is a target. The reader is pulled on a wild ride of fear that leaves them unsettled and worried for everyone in the town.
The characters themselves leapt off of the page - their sarcasm, wit, and friendly bantering was fantastic, and you knew they had long standing relationships from how they interacted. The inclusion of First Nation’s peoples, history, and lore that blended into the fabric of this story really made me happy.
This novel really engrossed me into the town of Port Luck itself. I couldn’t put this copy down, and the horrors inside crept into my dreams - it was everything I was looking for in a horror. Tension, suspense, gore, and the best part of all - a cryptid from northern tales! My favourite horrors involve these guys, so I was very excited to learn as I read that this monster feature had one.
Thank you, Timothy King for choosing me to be an arc reader for this incredible horror novel, and for including me in on the Terror Team. This is an honest review for the arc copy. I can’t wait to read more from Tim in the future!
The characters themselves leapt off of the page - their sarcasm, wit, and friendly bantering was fantastic, and you knew they had long standing relationships from how they interacted. The inclusion of First Nation’s peoples, history, and lore that blended into the fabric of this story really made me happy.
This novel really engrossed me into the town of Port Luck itself. I couldn’t put this copy down, and the horrors inside crept into my dreams - it was everything I was looking for in a horror. Tension, suspense, gore, and the best part of all - a cryptid from northern tales! My favourite horrors involve these guys, so I was very excited to learn as I read that this monster feature had one.
Thank you, Timothy King for choosing me to be an arc reader for this incredible horror novel, and for including me in on the Terror Team. This is an honest review for the arc copy. I can’t wait to read more from Tim in the future!
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